Signs Your Guitar Needs Professional Fretwork
- Note Choking on Bends: Whole-step or 1.5-step string bends in the upper registers (frets 12-17) choke out or die prematurely against taller downstream frets.
- Localized Buzzing: A specific fret buzzes loudly on one or two strings, even though the rest of the fingerboard plays clearly.
- String Grooves and Divots: Visible indentations worn into cowboy-chord frets (frets 1-5) under the B and high E strings.
- Sharp Fret Ends (Fret Sprout): Running your hand along the edge of the neck feels like a cheese grater due to dry wood shrinkage.
Our Precision Fret Leveling, Crowning & Polishing Protocol
At Colorado Guitar Tech, we don't guess — we measure. We utilize machined precision straightedges, 3-fret rocking gauges, and diamond abrasive leveling beams.
1. Fingerboard Prep & Relief Flattening
Before a single abrasive touches the frets, the neck is adjusted until it is mathematically dead-flat using a precision-notched straightedge that references only the wood, bypassing the fret crowns.
2. Precision Surface Leveling
Each fret is marked with luthier layout dye. Using an extruded aluminum leveling beam true to within 0.0002" per foot, we execute light, uniform passes along the string path, shaving high spots until every fret crown reflects a uniform whisper of contact.
3. Diamond Crowning
Leveling leaves a narrow flat plateau on top of the frets. Using precision concave diamond crowning files (300 and 600 grit), we re-crown the sides of each fret, leaving an ultra-fine, razor-thin witness line dead center. This guarantees exact string takeoff and true intonation.
4. Micro-Mesh Mirror Polish
File scratches cause friction and grainy bends. We step through progressively finer abrasives: 400, 800, 1200 grit wet/dry paper, followed by Micro-Mesh pads up to 8000 grit, and final cotton buffing with jewelers' rouge. Bends feel slick as glass.
Solving Colorado Fret Sprout
Why Fret Sprout Happens Every Winter in Colorado
Wood shrinks when it gives up moisture; nickel-silver and stainless steel do not. In Colorado’s dry winter furnace air, ebony and rosewood fingerboards can shrink laterally by up to 1-2%, pushing the fret ends out into the player's palm.
We solve fret sprout by first evaluating hydration, then using specialized safe-edge fret end files to dress the exposed tangs flush to the wood bevel, followed by rounded end dressing (semi-hemispherical treatment) for velvet-smooth neck comfort.
Fretwork Pricing Overview
| Fret Service | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fret Sprout Dressing | Fret end beveling, deburring, polishing, edge roll | $50 – $70 |
| Spot Fret Level (1-3 frets) | Reseating loose frets, localized level, crown, polish | $45 – $65 |
| Full Fret Level, Crown & Polish | All frets leveled, precision crowned, 8000-grit buff + full setup | $175 – $225 |
| Stainless Steel Surcharge | Specialized diamond tooling required for hard alloy | +$50 |